Line Plots: Showing Data the Fun Way!

Math Grades 1st Grade 3:08 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn how to create line plots to show information in a simple and fun way! We'll use dots to represent how many of each thing we have.

Video Resource

Making line plots | Measurement and data | Early Math | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Duration: 3:08
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Data
  • Line Plot
  • Number Line
  • Representation

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to create a line plot from given data.
  • Students will be able to interpret data presented on a line plot.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they have ever collected information (data) about things. Discuss examples like favorite colors, number of pets, or shoe sizes. Explain that today, they will learn a fun way to show this information using something called a line plot.
  • Video Viewing (7 mins)
    Show the Khan Academy video 'Making line plots'. Instruct students to pay attention to how the presenter creates the line plots and what the dots represent.
  • Guided Practice (10 mins)
    After the video, work through a simple example together on the board. For example: 'Let's say we asked our classmates how many books they read last month. 1 read 1 book, 2 read 2 books, and 1 read 3 books. Let's make a line plot to show this!' Draw a number line and guide students to place the correct number of dots above each number.
  • Independent Practice (10 mins)
    Give students a worksheet with a few simple data sets and number lines. They should create their own line plots. Examples: * Number of stickers each student has: Amy (3), Ben (2), Carlos (3), Dana (1) * Number of pets each student has: Sarah (1), Tom (0), Emily (2), John (1), Kim (1)
  • Wrap-up and Sharing (3 mins)
    Have a few students share their line plots and explain what the data shows. Review the key concepts of data, line plots, and number lines.

Interactive Exercises

  • Class Survey Line Plot
    Conduct a quick class survey (e.g., favorite fruit: apple, banana, orange). As a class, create a line plot on the board to represent the survey results.
  • Data Detective
    Provide pre-made line plots and have students answer questions about them. For example: 'How many people like apples the most?' or 'What is the least favorite fruit?'

Discussion Questions

  • What is a line plot?
  • What does each dot on a line plot mean?
  • How can line plots help us understand information better?

Skills Developed

  • Data representation
  • Data interpretation
  • Counting
  • Problem-solving

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What do the dots on a line plot show us?

Correct Answer: How many of each thing we have

Question 2:

If 3 kids like dogs, how many dots should be over 'dogs' on the line plot?

Correct Answer: 3 dots

Question 3:

What is a line plot?

Correct Answer: A way to show information

Question 4:

Which of these is used to make a line plot?

Correct Answer: A number line

Question 5:

If there are 2 dots above the number '5', how many things are there?

Correct Answer: 2 things

Question 6:

What do we call the information we collect?

Correct Answer: Data

Question 7:

Which is the best title for line plot about favorite colors?

Correct Answer: Our Favorite Colors

Question 8:

If a line plot shows how many pets each student has, what kind of animal could be on the line plot?

Correct Answer: A dog

Question 9:

Which number line would work best for these shoe sizes: 1, 2, 3?

Correct Answer: A number line from 1 to 3

Question 10:

A line plot can help us see information _________.

Correct Answer: More clearly

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A line plot uses a ________ line.

Correct Answer: number

Question 2:

The dots on a line plot show how ________ of each thing there are.

Correct Answer: many

Question 3:

________ is another word for information.

Correct Answer: Data

Question 4:

On a line plot, each dot stands for ________ thing.

Correct Answer: one

Question 5:

We put ________ above the numbers on a line plot.

Correct Answer: dots

Question 6:

Making a line plot is a fun way to show ________.

Correct Answer: data

Question 7:

The numbers on the bottom of a line plot help us ________.

Correct Answer: count

Question 8:

A line plot helps us understand ________ better.

Correct Answer: information

Question 9:

The line plot has two penguins at 48 centimeters; there must be ________ dots above 48.

Correct Answer: two

Question 10:

We can collect data by asking ________ or by looking at things around us.

Correct Answer: people

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.MD.C.4:Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another. CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.A.1:Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

Teaching Materials

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